James Aljian, 75; Tracinda executive, MGM Mirage director

James Aljian, 75, a Tracinda Corp. executive and MGM Mirage board member, died Thursday of cancer at a hospital in Los Angeles, according to a statement issued by MGM Mirage Inc., where Aljian had served on the board of directors since 1988.

He was part of a team that developed several major Las Vegas casinos, including Caesars Palace, the Flamingo Hotel, the International Hotel -- now the Las Vegas Hilton -- and the first MGM Grand Hotel, the statement said.

Aljian, who lived in Marina del Rey, was a close associate and friend of MGM Mirage majority shareholder Kirk Kerkorian. At the time of his death, he was an executive at Kerkorian’s investment company Tracinda.

Aljian was a former senior vice president of finance for MGM Studios in the 1970s and held the same position at MGM/UA Entertainment in the early 1980s, the statement said.

A native of Oakland, Aljian served in the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division.